Internal combustion engine



Nov. 17,1931. A. M. NIVEN 1,832,573

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Filed Feb. 23. 1928 IN VEN TOR.

A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT ore-ice ARCHIE MACPHAIL NIVEN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR T0 CONTINENTAL MOTORS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA,

INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE Application filed February 23', 1928. Serial No. 256,211.

This invention relates to internal combustion engines and refers more particularly to sleeve valve and like types of engines. In this general class of engines it is customary to provide a cylinder head or other structure spaced within the cylinder. to form a pocket receiving one or more sleeve valves. In certain well known types of sleeve valve engines such as the Knight or the Burt-McCollum for sleeve pocket usually during the firing of the charge whereby the sleeve ports are cooled. It is known that the sleeve pocket tendsto accumulate what is generally lmown as sludge, being in the nature ofcarbon, oil, residue constituents of the intake and exhaust gases, and the like. It has heretofore been necessary to periodically remove the s udge accumulation by dismantling the cylinder head and scraping 'away the deposit since the accumulationint'erferes with the proper operation of the sleeve valves,'produces overheating in the region of the sleeve pocket, and otherwise interferes with the desired efficient and smooth running qualities of the engine.

I have invented means for removing the matter which finds its way to the sleeve pocket. If such matter is removedperiodically it may be disposed of without difiiculty according to my invention, preferably before any great accumulation is experienced in the sleeve pocket. When permitted to accumulate this matter is' acted upon by the heat of the engine and in time carbonized andbecomes heavily incrusted in the sleeve'pocket. My invention provides means preferably manually controlled for periodically removing the sludge whereby the sleeve pocket will be maintained substantially free from the objectionable deposits. I prefer to provide suction means acting periodically as aforesaid as I have found that in general a suction when applied constantly to the sleeve pocket tends to produce an undue accumulation of sludge in the pocket whereas a periodic suction does not in this respect appreciably alter the normal operating conditions of the engine.

Referring to the accompanying drawings example, the sleeve ports are moved into the 7 illustrating one embodiment of my invention,

Fig. 1 is a sectional'perspective view of a typical sleeve valve engine illustrating my invention, and

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the suction con trol mechanism along 2-2' of Fig. 1.

In the drawings reference character A represents the engine cylinder block, having cylinders 10. Each cylinder is closedby a cylinder head B having a portion 11 depending within and spaced from the cylinder walls to form an annular sleeve pocket 12. This sleeve pocket receives one or more sleeve valvesported and actuated according to the type of sleeve valve engine desired. For illustration I have shown a single sleeve valve 13 of the Burt-McCollum'type having one or more intake and exhaust ports 14; and 15 respectively cooperating with the cylinder intake and exhaust ports 16'and 17.

Communicating with each sleeve pocket is a cylinder block conduit 18, these conduits be ing connected by branch passages 19 to the suction header 20. The latter header communicates with the intake manifold 21 which may be supplied with fuel mixtureby the carburetor 22, the usual throttle valve 23 controlling the fuel miXture supply. The valve 23 is manually actuated by lever-arm 24 and actuating rod 25 leading to a suitable point of control such as the usual accelerator not shown) when the engine is mounted in a vehicle chassis. The'l'ever arm. 2% has an eX- tension 26 beyond the valve rock shaft 27, which extension actuates the push rod 28. The header 20 has a sui able valve 29 adapted to swing on a pin 30 to which is conuectedan actuating lever arm 31 slotted at 32 to receive the upper threaded end of rod 28. A tension spring 33 tendsto exert .a closing movement on the valve 29. A suitable stop or abutment 30 is provided on the rod 28 below arm 31 so as to move the arm 31 and open valve 29.

In operation the throttle valve 23 is manually operated through rod 25 in the custom ary manner to control the speed of the engine. As aforesaid I prefer to cause a suction in the sleeve pocket 12 to remove the sludge at periods or intervals of time. To this end the mechanism is so arranged that for relatively small opening movements of throttle valve 23 the valve 29 is not opened, the rod 28 freely moving in slot 32. However, for relatively large opening movements of valve 23, the abutment 30 is brought into engagement with rod 31 swinging valve 29 open against the tension of spring 33. When the valve 29 is open the suction normally experienced in the intake manifold 21 will produce a suction in the header 2O removing the sludge from the sleeve pocket and transferring the same to the intake manifold where the sludge will be carried along to the working chambers of the engine. As the throttle valve 23 closes. the abutment 30 leaves the rod 31 which is held in closed position by valve 29 and spring 33.

In engines for propelling motor vehicles for example, the driver ordinarily operates the engine at relatively high speeds from time to time so that my invention will provide manually controlled means for automatically and periodically removing the sludge from the sleeve pocket bv suction. The abutment 30 may be adjustable to cause the periodic suction at regular intervals according to the driving habits. of the operator with respect to speed ranees as will be readily understood.

If desired the pocket suction might be controlled by other devices than from the throttle valve as illustrated. For example. the valve 29 might be controlled by the well known carburetor choke commonly used for starting or to the electric starting equipment where a manually operated rod is generally emplo ed. O her modifications of my invention will readily suga'est themselves and I do not limit the scope of my invention except as specifically recited in the claims.

What I claim my invention is:

1. In an engine of the sleeve valve type. a cylind r. sleeve valve means associated with the cvlinder. a sleeve pocket structure accommodatinsz the sleeve valve means. a throttle valve controlling the engine intake. a conduit communicating at one end with the sleeve pocket, the sleeve pocket being: otherwise closed. a valv for said conduit. and means actuating sa d conduit valve upon actuation of the throttle valve.

2. In an engine of the sleeve valve tvpe. a cylinder. sleeve valve means associated with the cylinder. a sleeve pocket structure accommodating the sleeve valve means. a throttle valve controlling the engine intake. a conduit communicating at one end with th sleeve pocket. the sleeve pocket being otherwise closed. a valve for said conduit, and common means for simultaneously actuating the said valves.

3. In an engine of the sleeve valve tvpe. acylinder. sleeve valve means associated with. the cylinder, a sleeve pocket structure accoi'nmodating the sleeve valve means. a suction conduit communicating at one end with the sleeve pocket and with the said fuel supply system, said sleeve pocket being otherwise closed, a valve for said conduit. and manually controlled means ior actuating said valve.

4. In an engine 01 the sleeve valve type, a cylinder, sleeve valve means associa :d with the cylinder, a sleeve pocket structure accommodating the sleeve valve means. an intake manifold, a conduit between. the sleeve pocket and intake manifold, a valve for said conduit. a throttle valve controlling" the supply of fuel mixture to the intake manifold. and a lost motion mechanism connecting said valves.

In an engine of the sleeve valve type. a cylinder. sleeve valve means associated with the cylinder. a sleeve pocket structure accommodatina the sleeve valve means, an intake manifold. a conduit between the sleeve pocket and intake ma nitold. a valve for said conduit. a throttle valve controlling the supply of fuel mixture to the intake manifold. and means interconnecting said valves causing unseating oi the conduit valve only after the throttle valve has been actuated to a predetermined extent.

6. In an engine of the sleeve valve type. a cylinder. sleeve valve means associated with the cylinder. a modatim; the sleeve valve means. an intake manifold, a conduit between the sleeve pocket and intake manifold. a valve for said conduit. a throttle valve controlling the supply 01"" sleeve pocket structure accomfuel mixture to the intake manifold. and a i lost motion mechanism between said valves causing unseating of the conduit valve when the throttle valve is actuated beyond a predetermined openingr position.

7. In an engine of the sleeve valve type. a 3

cylinder. sleeve valve means associated with the cylinder. a sleeve pocket structure accommodating the sleeve valve means, a slude'e conducting conduit opening into the sleeve pocket. said sleeve pocket being; otherwise closed. a normallv closed valve for said conduit. and manually controlled means periodically unseating said valve.

8. In an engine of the sleeve valve type. a cvlinder. sleeve valve means associated with the cylinder. a sleeve pocket structure accommodating the sleeve valve means, an intake manifold for supplying variable quantities or" fuel mixture to the engine, a sludge removinn conduit communicating with the sleeve pocket. said sleeve pocket being otherwise closed. a normally closed valve for the con duit. and means responsive to the quantity of fuel mixture supplied to the engine by the intake manitold for unseating the valve.

9. An engine ot the sleeve valve type comprising; in combination, a cylinder. sleeve valve means associated with the cylinder. a sleeve pocket structure accommodating the sleeve valve means, m ans responsive to manual actuation controlling operation of the engine, and means responsive to the said controlling means and only after a predetermined actuation thereof for removing deposits from the sleeve pocket.

10. An engine of the sleeve valve type comprising in combination, a cylinder, sleeve valve means associated with the cylinder, a sleeve pocket structure accommodating the sleeve valve means, means responsive to manual actuation controlling operation of the engine, and means responsive to the said controlling means and only after a predetermined actuation thereof for removing deposits from the sleeve pocket, the last said means including a conduit opening into the sleeve pocket the latter being otherwise closed.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of February, A. D.

ARCHIE MACPHAIL NIVEN. 

